Monthly Archives: April 2014

If you are newly engaged, you are probably concerned with the way you present your wedding, from your engagement to the the thank you notes as newlyweds – making sure every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed. Planning a wedding is exciting, but it is filled with emotion and plenty of decision making – none of which are right or wrong.

Etiquette has evolved, and the line between formality and personality can be blurred now more than ever. We believe in traditional sentimental details, and warm family traditions — but we do live in a new time where brides can express themselves without all the rules from previous generations.

Here at Méldeen, we will help you stick to what is important, and voice what is comfortable to you. We realize each couple is unique and each situation is different. If you use common sense, and go with your gut, you won’t regret a thing. Ultimately, this is a day to celebrate the love you have for each other and christen the new adventure you are starting together!

Just as no couples are alike, neither should any wedding stationery. That’s why we do what we do! We create something that reflects you, your unique style, and bring the things that are important to you to your guests attention. Show the information that is important to you, and don’t worry about what you leave out. After all, this is one of the most special correspondences you will ever send. The stationery should tangibly represent your wedding day, and all the work leading up to it.

Pick all the elements you want to see in your wedding suite- like RSVP envelope, additional insert cards, double envelopes, and liners. No pressure if you decide that investing in some of these elements is not important to you!

We’ve connected with you about who we are and what we do. We’ve gathered a few details about your big day and you’re ready to make that next move, your personalized consultation!

We offer this free service to talk through ideas you’ve have had since you first dreamed of your big day. It’s ok to share that you’d like a bubble gum bouquet, or you’ve envisioned incorporating your mother’s art from her younger years. We encourage out-of-the-box thinking, and we are here to create something special and unique just for you.

After that first moment you inquire with Méldeen, we start gathering information about your big day. This allows us to create the foundation for a productive conversation when we finally get to meet face to face, over the phone or Skype.

Your consultation is a place to explore ideas, but we don’t want to spend to much time going in directions that just don’t fit your budget or the aesthetic of your day. Share your expectations and limitations. This will eliminate any unnecessary moves, and none of your precious time is wasted.

Being prepared doesn’t mean the same for each bride. You may have a better game plan than a team going to the Super Bowl, or you may just want to be inspired by what we do and how we create the magic that is Méldeen. Either way, take note of what is important to you. What will you not sacrifice? What have you dreamt about since your engagement? What’s your budget? Take time to tear apart wedding magazines, make collages or mood boards of anything that appeals to you. As much as we think we do, we don’t have an education in mind reading, so help us understand you! We will come prepared to dig it out of you so, if a collection of pictures or inspiration book isn’t in the cards, have no fear, we will get there!

Ideally, our initial consultation will take place 8-12 months out for Save the Dates and 4-6 months out for Invitations. We’re open to a lot of different scenarios and capable of adjusting accordingly. If we are in a time crunch, we will inform you on customizing your paper timeline, along with any applied rush fees.

Get ready to have your mind blown! We are swift and creative, gentle and understanding, but mostly helpful and full of new ideas! Be ready to make some decisions and check paper of your to-do list!

Here at Meldeen, we realize that invitations are only a small part of your big day, but we’ve got big ideas. One of our favorite parts of the paper process is bringing in textural elements that complement your day. We dream in ribbon, twine, fabric and lace. If you are looking to spruce up the traditional invitation suite – throw a bow on it! Literally. Add an element of texture. Get creative. We’ve done everything from doily envelopes to simple envelope liners that add a personal touch. We are always happy to pitch ideas that create dimension for your paper pieces. And sure, before we deliver your invitation suite, we can do all the handiwork for you. One stop shop. No fuss.

But why not treat all the lovely ladies involved in your day to a Craft Party? Make it a relaxing, casual affair and invite your closest girlfriends with the gift for gab. Or have one of your shower hosts incorporate crafting into one of your traditional wedding parties. Wedding planning can be super stressful, and not just for the bride-to-be! The wedding party experiences the stress of party planning, too. Why not give your girls a day off and enjoy each other over champagne cocktails and glue sticks?

We’ve collected three easy DIY techniques from recent clients to get your brain turning about the endless paper possibilities.

1. Invitation Duplexing
Duplexing is a fancy word for glueing two pieces of paper together. You could glue two different sizes together to create a frame effect, or simply construct a paper that’s doubly thick. Get crazy with it and do something asymmetrical, or glue a pocket for the RSVP or info card.

2. Envelope Liners
Bring in a personal element – maybe an illustration or painting that means something to you or your families. Keep it traditional with an extra solid pop of color, or a complimentary pattern. Liner options are endless and we can make custom liners out of pretty much any artwork.

3. Throw a Bow on It
You can tie a bow on almost anything. This is a great option if your wedding party isn’t the craftiest bunch. We’ll send you the paper pieces with holes already punched. Whether it’s your ceremony program or a detail in your invitation suite, you could do this with your eyes closed. If you’re feeling ambitious, pick a more creative bow. Do something different.

Now what should it say?

Composing your wedding invitation

Etiquette should never be adhered to at the cost of relationships. These are just guidelines, but do what feels most comfortable for those mentioned on this special stationery.

First, let’s learn a little and talk about the each line!

HOST LINE(s):

Traditionally, the host line lists the parents, or the couple. This line is reserved for the people hosting or funding the wedding. These days, many brides use this line to honor a family involved, acknowledging who is contributing financially and/or emotionally for their wedding.

If you are personally funding the wedding, there is nothing wrong with listing your names as the hosts. Many couples add “along with their families” to acknowledge the emotional support of their parents or to be respectfully vague about a complicated family or financial situation.

For middle names, you can choose to use them, use an initial, or omit. This is strictly personal preference.

Most traditional for married parents of the bride:
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Jacob Williams

If divorced or separated, the woman’s name always comes first, and the names appear on two lines – Omit the word “and”. The use of the word links the names together as married.
Ms. Mary Williams
Mr. Daniel Williams

For parents that are divorced and one or both has remarried, you may list both sets, or you may choose to just list your biological parents only like shown above but with “Mrs.” for the woman.
Ms. Mary Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Williams
or
Mrs. Mary Jacobsen and Mr. John Jacobson
Mr. Daniel Williams
or
Ms. Mary Jacobsen and Mr. John Jacobson
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Williams

To list groom’s family, you can list them under the bride’s parent’s names or below the groom himself – if divorced same rules as above applies:
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Jacob Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Blake Henry Baily
request the honor of your presence
or
Groom Name
son of
Mr. & Mrs. Blake Henry Baily
Date

For parents who are doctors:
If both are: The Doctors Williams
If Father is: Doctor and Mrs. Daniel Williams
If the Mother is: Doctor Mary Williams and Mr. Daniel Williams

For mothers who have kept their maiden name, she should appear on the first like with the word “and” linking them to the father.
Mrs. Mary Johnson and Mr. Daniel Williams

Ministers are referred to as:
The Revered and Mrs. Daniel Williams
or
The Reverend Mary Williams and Mr. Daniel Williams

Other titles:

Military titles can be listed but not abbreviated

Ph.D. titles are only used in academic settings.

Listing Judges as “The Honorable” can come across presumptuous, unless you know that is their preferred “title” over “Mr.” or “Judge”.

REQUEST LINE(s):

For weddings held in a church, you use the word “honour”
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
or
the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of

For weddings held outside of a place of worship, it typically reads:
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
or
the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of

COUPLES NAMES :

Traditionally:
Brides First & Middle, no Last Name
to
Mr. Grooms Full Name

More current:
Brides First Middle Last
to
Grooms First Middle Last

It is also okay to omit one or both of the middle names.

You will also want to list titles if applies, with no abbreviation:

Doctor

Junior, II, III, etc. You can use, or omit the comma before it

Military Titles (if prefer)

DATE LINE:

The day of the week, the month and the year are all spelled out.
Numbers are used for more casual and quirky designs.
Saturday, the twenty-fifth of June
Two thousand and fifteen
or
Saturday, June 25, 2014

TIME LINE:

You can list time simply as “four o’clock” or as formal as “four o’clock in the afternoon”
Just like the time, numbers can be used for more casual and quirky invites.
4:00

LOCATION:

The location lists the place, address, and city & state. No zip code.
Cities of New York City and Washington D.C are exceptions, and are simply listed with no state: New York and Washington, District of Columbia
If the location is held in someones home, it is listed as the “The Daniel’s Residence”

When the reception is held at the same place, you can smile have “reception to follow” – otherwise, you will list the reception to follow along with “location”, “address, city and state”.

ATTIRE:

Additional blog post coming soon!

QUICK VISUALS

From the Brides Parents
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Williams
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jillian Elizabeth Williams
to
James Carter Bailey
Saturday the 15th of June
Two thousand fifteen
Seven o’clock in the evening
The Haley Vineyards
12345 Peach Tree Trail
Austin, Texas

From the Brides divorced Parents
Mrs. Mary Williams
Mr. Daniel Williams
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jillian Elizabeth Williams
to
James Carter Bailey
Saturday, the fifteenth of June
Two thousand fifteen
Seven o’clock in the evening
The Haley Vineyards
12345 Peach Tree Trail
Austin, Texas

Acknowledgment of Both Parents
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Williams
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jillian Elizabeth Williams
to
James Carter Bailey
son of
Mr. & Mrs. Blake Henry Bailey
Saturday, the fifteenth of June
Two thousand fifteen
Seven o’clock in the evening
The Haley Vineyards
12345 Peach Tree Trail
Austin, Texas

Both Sets host:
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Blake Henry Bailey
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Jillian Elizabeth Williams
to
James Carter Bailey
Saturday, the fifteenth of June
Two thousand fifteen
Seven o’clock in the evening
The Haley Vineyards
12345 Peach Tree Trail
Austin, Texas

Couple Hosts
The honor of your presence is requested
at the marriage of
Jillian Elizabeth Williams
to
James Carter Bailey
or
Jillian Elizabeth Williams
to
James Carter Bailey
request the honor of your presence
at their marriage

Both sets of parents are divorced:
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Williams
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jillian Elizabeth Williams
to
James Carter Bailey
son of
Mr. & Mrs. Blake Henry Bailey
Saturday, the fifteenth of June
Two thousand fifteen
Seven o’clock in the evening
The Haley Vineyards
12345 Peach Tree Trail
Austin, Texas

or

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Blake Henry Bailey
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Jillian Elizabeth Williams
to
James Carter Bailey
Saturday, the fifteenth of June
Two thousand fifteen
Seven o’clock in the evening
The Haley Vineyards
12345 Peach Tree Trail
Austin, Texas

If you have questions, or would like to know more about religious, military or cultural etiquette, please get in touch info@meldeen.com